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The Third Dimension of the Magdouh Mosaic in Antioch

Year 2019, Issue: 12, 107 - 118, 30.11.2019
https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.614865

Abstract

This study investigates the complex geometry of the pattern of circles in the Magdouh Mosaic, which dates to between the fifth and sixth centuries, found in Antioch-on-the-Orontes (modern Antakya, Turkey). The mosaic has a complex pattern that is composed of tangent, overlapping and intersecting circles suggesting that it was worthwhile analyzing in 3D. Through such an analysis, it was observed that the extension of the pattern of circles into a third dimension looks like spheres packed together that intersect in three directions at right angles. This can also be demonstrated by packing octahemioctahedra, which are a cluster of eight regular packed tetrahedra contained within the spheres. In addition, the packing of octahemioctahedra in this way also suggests the packing of stella octangula contained within hemispheres that intersect each other. Furthermore, tracing the line segments that are emphasized in each circle in the Magdouh Mosaic in such a 3D structure turns them into space-filling rhombohedra that can be dissected into two tetrahedra and an octahedron. Thus, the result of this study shows that the Magdouh Mosaic in Antioch is the top view of a square-based pyramidal cluster of intersecting hemispheres that hold space-filling rhombohedra inside them.

References

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  • Balderstone 2009 S. Balderstone, “A New View of the Pella Churches in Terms of Dating and Analysis: The Typological Context”, Levant 41, 1, 93-106.
  • Barsanti 2012 C. Barsanti, “The Fate of the Antioch Mosaic Pavements: Some Reflections”, JMR 5, 25-42.
  • Becker - Kondoleon 2005 L. Becker - C. Kondoleon, The Arts of Antioch: Art Historical and Scientific Approaches to Roman Mosaics and a Catalogue of the Worcester Art Museum Antioch Collection, Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA.
  • Biebel 1938 F. M. Biebel, “Mosaics”, C.H. Kraeling (ed.), Gerasa, City of the Decapolis, American Schools of Oriental Research, New Haven (CT), 297-352.
  • Blakemore 1985 J. S. Blakemore, Solid State Physics, Cambridge.
  • Campbell 1988 S. Campbell, The Mosaics of Antioch, Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Toronto.
  • Cimok 2000 F. Cimok, Antioch Mosaics, İstanbul.
  • Concise Dictionary of Mathematics 2013
  • Concise Dictionary of Mathematics, New Delhi.
  • Dunbabin 1989 K. M. D. Dunbabin, “Roman and Byzantine Mosaics in the Eastern Mediterranean”, JRA 2, 313-318.
  • Elderkin 1934 G. W. Elderkin, Antioch on the Orontes I: The Excavations of 1932, Princeton.
  • Hachlili 1998 R. Hachlili, Ancient Jewish Art and Archeology in the Diaspora, Leiden, Boston, Köln.
  • Haynes 1951 I. E. Haynes, “Antioch Mosaic Pavements by Doro Levi”, Antiquity 25, 98, 111-112.
  • Hopkins 1948 C. Hopkins, “Antioch Mosaic Pavements”, JNES 7, 2, 91-97.
  • Kappraff 2002 J. Kappraff, Connections: The Geometric Bridge Between Art and Science 2nd Edition, World Scientific, Singapore.
  • Kondoleon 2000 C. Kondoleon, “Mosaics of Antioch”, C. Kondoleon (ed.), Antioch: The Lost Ancient City, Princeton, 63–77.
  • Levi 1947 D. Levi, Antioch Mosaic Pavements, Princeton.
  • Nassar 2010 M. Nassar, “Geometric Mosaic Pavements of Yasileh in Jordan”, PEQ 142, 3, 182–198.
  • Nassar - Sabbagh 2016 M. Nassar - A. Sabbagh, “The Geometric Mosaics at Khirbat Mar Elyas: A Comparative Study”, GrRomByzSt 56, 3, 528–555.
  • Parzysz 2009 B. Parzysz, “Using Key Diagrams to Design and Construct Roman Geometric Mosaics?”, NNJ 11, 2, 273-288.
  • Stillwell 1938 R. Stillwell, Antioch on the Orontes II: The Excavations of 1933-1936, Princeton.
  • Stillwell 1941 R. Stillwell, Antioch on the Orontes III: The Excavations of 1937-1939, Princeton.
  • Williams 1979 R. Williams, The Geometrical Foundation of Natural Structure a Source Book of Design, New York.
Year 2019, Issue: 12, 107 - 118, 30.11.2019
https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.614865

Abstract

References

  • al-Muheisen - Nassar 2014 Z. al-Muheisen - M. Nassar. “Geometric Mosaic Pavements at Ras ed-Deir, Jordan”, GrRomByzSt 54, 1, 87–104.
  • Balderstone 2009 S. Balderstone, “A New View of the Pella Churches in Terms of Dating and Analysis: The Typological Context”, Levant 41, 1, 93-106.
  • Barsanti 2012 C. Barsanti, “The Fate of the Antioch Mosaic Pavements: Some Reflections”, JMR 5, 25-42.
  • Becker - Kondoleon 2005 L. Becker - C. Kondoleon, The Arts of Antioch: Art Historical and Scientific Approaches to Roman Mosaics and a Catalogue of the Worcester Art Museum Antioch Collection, Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA.
  • Biebel 1938 F. M. Biebel, “Mosaics”, C.H. Kraeling (ed.), Gerasa, City of the Decapolis, American Schools of Oriental Research, New Haven (CT), 297-352.
  • Blakemore 1985 J. S. Blakemore, Solid State Physics, Cambridge.
  • Campbell 1988 S. Campbell, The Mosaics of Antioch, Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Toronto.
  • Cimok 2000 F. Cimok, Antioch Mosaics, İstanbul.
  • Concise Dictionary of Mathematics 2013
  • Concise Dictionary of Mathematics, New Delhi.
  • Dunbabin 1989 K. M. D. Dunbabin, “Roman and Byzantine Mosaics in the Eastern Mediterranean”, JRA 2, 313-318.
  • Elderkin 1934 G. W. Elderkin, Antioch on the Orontes I: The Excavations of 1932, Princeton.
  • Hachlili 1998 R. Hachlili, Ancient Jewish Art and Archeology in the Diaspora, Leiden, Boston, Köln.
  • Haynes 1951 I. E. Haynes, “Antioch Mosaic Pavements by Doro Levi”, Antiquity 25, 98, 111-112.
  • Hopkins 1948 C. Hopkins, “Antioch Mosaic Pavements”, JNES 7, 2, 91-97.
  • Kappraff 2002 J. Kappraff, Connections: The Geometric Bridge Between Art and Science 2nd Edition, World Scientific, Singapore.
  • Kondoleon 2000 C. Kondoleon, “Mosaics of Antioch”, C. Kondoleon (ed.), Antioch: The Lost Ancient City, Princeton, 63–77.
  • Levi 1947 D. Levi, Antioch Mosaic Pavements, Princeton.
  • Nassar 2010 M. Nassar, “Geometric Mosaic Pavements of Yasileh in Jordan”, PEQ 142, 3, 182–198.
  • Nassar - Sabbagh 2016 M. Nassar - A. Sabbagh, “The Geometric Mosaics at Khirbat Mar Elyas: A Comparative Study”, GrRomByzSt 56, 3, 528–555.
  • Parzysz 2009 B. Parzysz, “Using Key Diagrams to Design and Construct Roman Geometric Mosaics?”, NNJ 11, 2, 273-288.
  • Stillwell 1938 R. Stillwell, Antioch on the Orontes II: The Excavations of 1933-1936, Princeton.
  • Stillwell 1941 R. Stillwell, Antioch on the Orontes III: The Excavations of 1937-1939, Princeton.
  • Williams 1979 R. Williams, The Geometrical Foundation of Natural Structure a Source Book of Design, New York.
There are 24 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Article
Authors

Hakan Hisarlıgil This is me 0000-0003-0616-9539

Beyhan Bolak Hisarlıgil 0000-0002-3343-0440

Publication Date November 30, 2019
Published in Issue Year 2019 Issue: 12

Cite

APA Hisarlıgil, H., & Bolak Hisarlıgil, B. (2019). The Third Dimension of the Magdouh Mosaic in Antioch. Journal of Mosaic Research(12), 107-118. https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.614865
AMA Hisarlıgil H, Bolak Hisarlıgil B. The Third Dimension of the Magdouh Mosaic in Antioch. JMR. November 2019;(12):107-118. doi:10.26658/jmr.614865
Chicago Hisarlıgil, Hakan, and Beyhan Bolak Hisarlıgil. “The Third Dimension of the Magdouh Mosaic in Antioch”. Journal of Mosaic Research, no. 12 (November 2019): 107-18. https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.614865.
EndNote Hisarlıgil H, Bolak Hisarlıgil B (November 1, 2019) The Third Dimension of the Magdouh Mosaic in Antioch. Journal of Mosaic Research 12 107–118.
IEEE H. Hisarlıgil and B. Bolak Hisarlıgil, “The Third Dimension of the Magdouh Mosaic in Antioch”, JMR, no. 12, pp. 107–118, November 2019, doi: 10.26658/jmr.614865.
ISNAD Hisarlıgil, Hakan - Bolak Hisarlıgil, Beyhan. “The Third Dimension of the Magdouh Mosaic in Antioch”. Journal of Mosaic Research 12 (November 2019), 107-118. https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.614865.
JAMA Hisarlıgil H, Bolak Hisarlıgil B. The Third Dimension of the Magdouh Mosaic in Antioch. JMR. 2019;:107–118.
MLA Hisarlıgil, Hakan and Beyhan Bolak Hisarlıgil. “The Third Dimension of the Magdouh Mosaic in Antioch”. Journal of Mosaic Research, no. 12, 2019, pp. 107-18, doi:10.26658/jmr.614865.
Vancouver Hisarlıgil H, Bolak Hisarlıgil B. The Third Dimension of the Magdouh Mosaic in Antioch. JMR. 2019(12):107-18.

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